The Tapestry Room eBook

“She was mounted on his back, and off he rushed
with her—­up hill, down dale, by rocky ground
and smooth, across rivers and through forests he rushed,
said the girl, faster and faster, till at last, as
evening fell, he came to a stand and spoke to her
for the first time.

“‘What time of day must it be by this,
king’s daughter?’ he said.

“The girl considered for a moment. Then,
forgetting her pretended position, she replied thoughtlessly,

“’It must be getting late. About
the time that my father gathers the flowers to adorn
the king’s and queen’s supper table.’

“‘Throw thee once, throw thee twice, throw
thee thrice,’ roared the bull, each time
shaking the girl roughly, and the last time flinging
her off his back. ’Shame on thee, gardener’s
daughter, and thou wouldst call thyself a true Princess.’

“And with that he left her bruised and frightened
out of her wits on the ground, and rushed off by himself
whither she knew not. And it was not till two
days later that the unfortunate gardener’s daughter
found her way home, glad enough, one may be sure,
to be again there in safety.

“In the meantime the ravages and terrors caused
by the terrible bull had begun again, and, as before,
messengers came incessantly to the king entreating
him to find some means of protecting his unfortunate
subjects. And the king and queen were half beside
themselves with anxiety. Only one thing they
were determined on—­nothing must be told
to the Princess.

CHAPTER IX.

THE BROWN BULL—­(Continued).

“And
she
Told them an old-world history.”
MATTHEW ARNOLD.

“‘She is so courageous,’ said the
queen, ’there is no knowing what she might not
do.’

“‘She is so kind-hearted,’ said
the king; ’she might imagine it her duty to
sacrifice herself to our people.’

“And the poor king and queen wept copiously
at the mere thought, and all the ladies and attendants
of the Princess were ordered on no account to let
a breath of the terrible story be heard by her.
Yet, after all, it so happened that her suspicions
were aroused afresh by the sight this time of the
weeping Bruna. For nothing else could be suggested
than again to try to deceive the monster; and Bruna,
a still prettier girl than the gardener’s daughter,
was this time chosen to represent the Princess.
But all happened as before. The brown bull rushed
off with his prize, the whole day the unfortunate
Bruna was shaken on his back, and again, as night
began to fall, he stopped at the same spot.

“‘What time must it be by this, king’s
daughter?’ he asked.

“Foolish Bruna, thankful to have a moment’s
rest, answered hastily,

“’O brown bull, it must be getting late,
and I am sorely tired. It must be about the time
that my mother takes all the eggs that have been laid
in the day to the king’s kitchen.’